Multicontact electrical connector

ABSTRACT

Multicontact electrical connector comprises an elongated channel-shaped housing having a web and upstanding sidewalls, an axially extending rib being provided on the underside of the web. The sidewalls extend upwardly then inwardly towards each other and have, on their opposed inner surfaces, longitudinally extending channels adjacent to their upper ends. The contact terminals are mounted in the housing by inserting them through holes in the web on opposite sides of the rib so that intermediate portions of the terminals are supported by the web. The upper ends of the terminals have means thereon for interengagement with the grooves or channels on the inner surfaces of the sidewalls. The connector assembly comprising the housing and the terminal is supported on the printed circuit mother board by the lower portions of the terminals which are disposed externally of the housing web. The rib functions to support the terminals against lateral movement when a mating element is inserted into the connector.

United States Patent [72| Inventors Homer Ernst Henschen Carlisle, Pa.; [21 Appl. No. 778,470 [22] Filed Nov. 25, 1968 [45] Patented Apr. 6, 1971 [73} Assignees AMP Incorporated Harrisburg, Pa.

[54) MULTICONTACT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 186M [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,947,964 8/1960 Johanson et a1. 339/17 2,983,896 5/1961 Gilbert 339/184 3,133,780 5/1964 Dean 339/258 3,289,148 11/1966 Antes .I:

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerLawrence J. Staab Attorneys-Curtis, Morris and Safford, Marshall M.

Homcombe, William Hintze, William J. Keating, Frederick W. Raring, John R. Hopkins, Adrian J. La Rue, Jay L. Seitchik ABSTRACT: Multicontact electrical connector comprises an elongated channel-shaped housing having a web and upstanding sidewalls, an axially extending rib being provided on the underside of the web. The sidewalls extend upwardly then inwardly towards each other and have, on their opposed inner surfaces, longitudinally extending channels adjacent to their upper ends. The contact tenninals are mounted in the housing by inserting them through holes in the web on opposite sides of the rib so that intermediate portions of the terminals are supported by the web. The upper ends of the terminals have means thereon for interengagement with the grooves or channels on the inner surfaces of the sidewalls. The connector assembly comprising the housing and the terminal is supported on the printed circuit mother board by the lower portions of the terminals which are disposed externally of the housing web. The rib functions to support the terminals against lateral movement when a mating element is inserted into the connector.

Patented April 6,1971 3,573,111

2 Shoots-Shoot 1 Patented April 6, 1971 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 MULTICONTACT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A commonly used type of multicontact electrical connector comprises a housing of insulating material having a longitudinally extending troughlike opening therein and having contact terminals mounted in the housing on opposite sides of the opening. The housing usually has a generally channel-shaped cross section and the sidewalls have recesses conforming to the contact terminals to hold the terminals in their proper positions. Connector housings of this type are usually manufactured of a relatively firm insulating material such as diallyl phthalate. Connectors of this general type have reached a highly developed stage of design and are widely available in a variety of sizes and shapes adapted to receive contact terminals of many different types. In general, they are dimensionally very precise because of the fact that the conductors on printed circuit boards are precisely located and the terminals in the connector housings must therefore be located with equal precision if they are to establish contact with the printed circuit board conductors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multicontact electrical connector which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost without sacrifice of dimensional precision as regards location of the terminals in the connector housing. A further object is to provide a connector housing which can be manufactured by conventional plastic extrusion processes of a material such as nylon. A still further object is to provide a connector housing and a connector that can be provided in any desired length.'A still further object is to provide a connector having improved means for supporting the contact terminals in the connector housing in precisely predetermined positions without, the aid of intricate cavities in the connector housing or delicate locking lances or the like on the contact terminal.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof comprising a multicontact electrical connector consisting of a generally channel shaped housing of insulating material and having an axially extending rib on the external surface of its web portion. The sidewalls of the housing have marginal upper edge portions which extend generally inwardly and towards each other and are provided, on their opposed surfaces, with longitudinally extending grooves or channels. The contacts are mounted in the connector housing by inserting them through precisely determined openings, which may be formed by a simple punching operation, to locate an intermediate portion of the terminal in the opening and to lodge the end portion of the terminal in the groove on the marginal upper edge of the associated sidewall. The terminals have body portions which extend beyond the external surface of the web of the housing and which function to support the connector assembly on the surface of a printed circuit mother board. The terminals are precisely located in the connector housing by virtue of the fact that they are held intermediate their ends by the openings in the housing web and are interengaged at their upper ends with the housing sidewalls. Additionally, when the connector is mounted on a printed circuit mother board, and the lower ends of the contact terminals are disposed against the surface of the printed circuit mother board, each contact terminal in the housing is firmly supported against rocking motion (which would disturb the locationof its contact surface) by virtue of this support for the base portion of the terminal and by virtue of the rib on the underside of the web. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing an end portion of the connector in accordance with the invention and illustrating the assembly of the connector to a printed circuit mother board, the assembly of a keying block to the connector, and the insertion of a printed circuit daughter board to the connector.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of contact terminal which is used in the disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view, showing a connector mounted on a printed circuit mother board and a daughter board inserted into the connector.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the connector showing the position of a printed circuit daughter board immediately prior to inser- .cordance with the invention comprises a generally channel shaped housing 4 having web 6 and upstanding sidewalls 8, 8. The upper portions of the sidewalls are inwardly directed as shown at l0, l0 and a generally circular beadlike heavy section l2, I2 extends along the upper edge of each sidewall. On the inner surfaces of the sidewalls, there are provided longitudinally extending channels or grooves I4, 14' the upper side of each groove being generally curved or arcuate as viewed in cross section as shown at 16, and the lower side having an inwardly and upwardly directed lip 18 which aids in latching the contact terminals in the housing as will be described below.

A plurality of generally rectangular openings 20, 20 are provided on each side of the centerline of the web 6 and an external axially extending rib 22 is provided on the underside of the web 6 midway between the sides of the housing. In the disclosed embodiment, the lower end 24 of this rib is relatively wider than its upper section for reasons which will also be explained subsequently.

The disclosed embodiment of the invention is adapted to accept a contact terminal 26 which is of generally U-shaped cross section having a base 28 and sidewalls 30. A post 32 extends from the center of the lower portion of the base to permit soldering as shown at 50, to conductors 52 on the underside of a printed circuit mother board 36, see FIG. 3. It will-be understood that if desired, other contact means can be provided on the lower end of the connector to make connections to external circuitry such as elongated posts of the type intended for wrap type or clip type connections used in pointtopoint wiring techniques.

A tongue 38 is formed from the base or floor of the terminal and is integral with the base at its lower end, as viewed in'FIG. 2, the upper end 42 of this tongue being free. This tongue is bent outwardly and inwardly to provide an apex 44 for contact with conductors on a printed circuit board. In the particular embodiment shown, the tongue is medially slotted as shown at 40 to provide two independent contacts with each conductor of a printed circuit daughter board. The formation of the tongue from the base of the terminal produces a downwardly (as viewed in FIG. 2) shoulder 48 which is utilized for latching purposes in the connector housing. The sidewalls on each side of the free end of the tongue may be provided with inwardly directedlances 46 to prevent outward movement of the tongue beyond the position shown in the drawing.

Connectors of the type shown in FIG. 2 are assembled to a connector housing 2 by merely inserting them through the openings 20, 20 in the web 6 of the housing, the terminals being oriented during the insertion operation such that their contact surfaces 44 face each other and will engage the conductors 56 on a printed circuit daughter board 54 after the daughter board is engaged with the connector. As the terminals are inserted through the openings 20, 20' they tend to cam or flex the sidewalls 8, 8' outwardly until the downwardly facing shoulders 48 of the terminals move past the lips 18 of the recesses 14 on the housing sidewalls. The upper portions of the sidewalls then return to their normal positions in which the arcuate upper sides 16 of the grooves 14 extend over the upper ends of the terminals and the upwardly directed lips 18 bear against the shoulders 48 of the terminals. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the housing should be of a material such that the sidewalls are capable of flexing outwardly during insertion of the terminals and returning to their nonnal positions after the terminal insertion operations have been completed. A relatively firm nylon is well suited to the manufacture of housings in accordance with the invention and exhibits, in thin wall sections, a degree of flexibility sufficient to permit insertion of the contact terminals as described above.

After insertion of the terminals into the housings, the lower portions of the bases of the terminals 26 will be disposed against the sides of the enlarged lower end 24 of the rib 22 of the housing. An intermediate portion of each terminal will be contained in one of the rectangular openings 20, in the web 6 of the housing and the upper portion of each terminal will be latched within a channel or groove 14 on one of the connector housing sidewalls.

After assembly of the terminals to the housing, the terminals will be retained in the housing by virtue of the latching affect of the upper end of each terminal with the groove 14 on the inner surface of the sidewall against which it is disposed and the interengagement of the shoulder 48 of each terminal with the lip 18, the interengagement of the lip 18 and shoulder 48 preventing downward movement of the terminal and the overhanging tip portion 12 of the sidewall preventing upward movement. A connector in accordance with the invention can be handled to the extent necessary for shipment and assembly and, if the material of the housing is of sufficient flexibility, a continuous length of connector housing in accordance with the invention can be wound on a reel.

At the time of assembly of the connector to the printed cir' cuit mother board 36, the connector is aligned with the precisely located holes.34 on the printed circuit mother board and the connector is moved relatively downwardly in FIG. 1 until the posts extend through this opening. The projecting lower ends of the posts can then be soldered as shown at 52 to the conductors on the underside of the mother board.

After the connector has been mounted on the printed circuit mother board ,36 the individual contact terminals 26 in the connector housing will be located with a high degree of precision as is required for printed circuit board connectors. The precision of the location of the contact terminals is achieved by virtue of the fact that the holes 34 in the mother board, through which the contact posts 32 are inserted, are accurately located within extremely close dimensional tolerances. Since the lower ends of the contact terminals are rigidly secured in these openings, it follows that the lower ends of the terminals are accurately located on the surface of the printed circuitmother board 36. Additionally, the openings 20, 20' in the housing web 6, through which the intermediate portions of the terminals extend, are also accurately located within close dimensional tolerances and the contact terminals entirely fill these openings. Thus an intermediate portion of each contact terminal is accurately located and held rigidly in a predetermined position directly above the center of the associated hole 34 in the printed circuit mother board 36. Since each individual contact terminal is accurately positioned and held at two locations along its length, the remaining portions of the contact terminals which extend above the web 6 of the housing are also accurately located in the housing. It will thus be .apparent that even though the housing is not provided with conventional contact receiving cavities (as in most prior art ,printed circuit board connectors) and has a uniform cross section throughout its length, the contact terminals themselves are positioned in the housing with the extremely high degree of precision required to insure engagement of each contact terminal with a particular printed circuit path 56 on the printed circuit daughter board 54.

The precise location of the contact terminals in the housing is maintained when the printed circuit daughter board is inserted into the connector by virtue of the manner in which the contacts are stressed by the daughter board and the manner in which the stresses are transmitted to the housing. When the daughter board is moved into the connector, the' contact terminals on the opposite sides of the housing arebiased away from the center line of the connector housing. The portions of the contacts, which are supported in the openings 20, function as fulcrums and the lower ends of the contact terminals tend to be swung inwardly and towards each other. These lower ends thus bear against the enlarged lower end 24 of the rib 22 which prevents inward movement of these lower ends and thereby prevents outward movement of the upper ends of the contact terminals. ln this manner, the contact surfaces 44 of the individual contact terminals are maintained in engagement with the conductors 56 on the printed circuit daughter board.

lt is frequently desirable to key a particular printed circuit daughter board 54 to a particular connector-2 on a mother board in order to compel the mating of the board with the connector for which it is intended. In the disclosed embodiment, keying can be achieved by a T-shaped key 58 having a body 60 which is usually slotted at 62 and having laterally extending arms 66, the ends of which are downwardlycurved at 68. As shown in FIG. 6, key 58 can be inserted into the housing by virtue of slot 62 until the upwardly facing shoulders 64 on the body portion lodge beneath the inner ends of the sidewalls. The board is slotted, as shown at 61, to permit its downward movement into the connector when the parts are mated, the unique location of the slot in the daughter board and the key in the connector insuring that the board 54 will be mated only with the connector 2. It will be noted that the key is inserted between adjacent contacts in the connector and the slot is located between adjacent conductors on the daughter board. This arrangement is advantageous in that it is not necessary to sacrifice any of the contact positions in the connector or any conductors on the daughter board when the keying system is used.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that connectors in accordance with the invention can be manufactured at an extremely low cost without sacrifice of the dimensional precision with which the contact terminals are contained in the housing or without sacrifice of the degree of physical protection afforded the terminals. The housings can be manufactured by a simple extrusion process if desired, and the holes 20 punched in a separate operation after the extrusion has been made. Housings in accordance with the invention can also be made by injection molding processes if desired and if the economic circumstances indicate that lower production costs could be achieved by a molding process.

Modifications and alternative embodiments, within the scope of the appended claims, will be apparent to those conversant in the connector art. For example, while the disclosed embodiment is particularly adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit mother board, the principles of the invention can also be employed in the design of connectors which are not fixed to, or on, a panel member, for example, a free hanging connector. The mating connector in the disclosed embodiment comprises a printed circuit daughter board 54 but this mating member could take the form of another connector, a plug member, having a plurality of contact terminals therein which would be mated with the contact terminals in the connector 2. The contact terminals need not be of the particular type shown in the drawing but could take any desired form, for example, fork-type contacts could be used of the type adapted to engage two sides of a printed circuit board.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

lclaim:

l. A multicontact electrical connector comprising:

a channel-shaped housing having a web and sidewalls and having axially extending rib means on the external surface of said web, said sidewalls being outwardly flexible relative to said web;

openings in said web at spaced intervals on each side of said rib means;

contact terminals extending through said openings, said terminals having forward portions disposed between said sidewalls and having rearward portions extending beside said rib', and

interengaging means effective between said forward portions of said terminals and said sidewalls, said interengaging means comprising axially extending channels on the internal surfaces of said sidewalls and means on said forward portions of said terminals extending into said channels, said terminals being insertable through said openings for assembly purposes whereby, upon engagement of mating device with said connector with a concomitant imposition of lateral forces on said forward portions of said contacts, said rearward portions of said contacts are urged against, and supported by, said rib means and said forward portions are maintained in engagement with said mating device.

2. A connector housing adapted to receive a plurality of contact terminals, said housing comprising:

an elongated generally channel-shaped member having a web and sidewalls;

axially extending rib means on the external surface of said web;

a plurality of openings on each side of said rib means, said openings being spaced apart along the length of said housing body and being adapted to receive contact terminals; and

stop means on the internal surfaces of said sidewalls adjacent to the marginal edges thereof for engagement with contact terminals inserted through said openings for preventing axial movement of said contacts relative to said housing after insertion said sidewalls being stiffly flexible to permit insertion of contact terminals through said openings until said stop means latches said terminals in said housing whereby, upon insertion of terminals through said openings until said terminals engage said stop means, forward portions of said terminals are disposed between said sidewalls and rearward portions of said terminals are disposed beside said rib means, and upon insertion of a mating member into said housing, said forward portions of said terminals are urged laterally against said sidewalls and said rearward portions of said terminals are urged against said rib means, whereby said rib means prevents substantial lateral movement of said forward portions and maintains said forward portions in contact with said mating member.

3. A multicontact electrical connector comprising:

an elongated generally channel-shaped housing having a web and sidewalls, an axially extending rib on the external surface of said web, said sidewalls being stiffly flexible towards and away from each other;

openings in said web at spaced intervals adjacent to, and

beside, said rib;

contact terminals extending through said openings, said terminals having rearward portions extending beside, and supported by,said rib, said contact terminals having forward portions extending beside one of said sidewalls; and

interengaging means effective between said forward portions of said terminals and said sidewalls, whereby, upon engagement of mating device with said connector with a concomitant imposition of lateral forces on said forward portions of said contacts, said rearward portions of said contacts are urged against, and supported by, said rib thereby to maintain said forward portions in engagement with said mating device.

4. A connector as set forth in claim 3, said web having openings therein on both sides of said rib.

5. A multicontact electrical connector comprising: a channel-shaped housing having a web and $1 ewalls, at

least one of said sidewalls being flexible outwardly; openings in said web at spaced-apart intervals; contact terminals extending through said openings, said terminals having forward portions disposed against said one sidewall and having rearward portions extending exteriorly of said web;

interengaging means on said one sidewall and said forward portions of said terminals, said interengaging means comprising recess means and laterally extending projection means whereby said terminals can be inserted through said openings with concomitant outward flexure of said sidewall until said terminals are engaged with said sidewall; and

abutment means on said web adjacent to said rearward portions of said sidewalls to support said terminals against rocking motion intermediate their ends upon insertion of a printed circuit board with said connector.

6. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein two parallel rows of openings are provided in said web.

7. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said abutment means comprises an axially extending rib on the external surface of said web.

8. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said interengaging means comprises an axially extending channel on said one sidewall and laterally extending projections on said terminals, said projections being received in said channel. 

1. A multicontact electrical connector comprising: a channel-shaped housing having a web and sidewalls and having axially extending rib means on the external surface of said web, said sidewalls being outwardly flexible relative to said web; openings in said web at spaced intervals on each side of said rib means; contact terminals extending through said openings, said terminals having forward portions disposed between said sidewalls and having rearward portions extending beside said rib; and interengaging means effective betweEn said forward portions of said terminals and said sidewalls, said interengaging means comprising axially extending channels on the internal surfaces of said sidewalls and means on said forward portions of said terminals extending into said channels, said terminals being insertable through said openings for assembly purposes whereby, upon engagement of mating device with said connector with a concomitant imposition of lateral forces on said forward portions of said contacts, said rearward portions of said contacts are urged against, and supported by, said rib means and said forward portions are maintained in engagement with said mating device.
 2. A connector housing adapted to receive a plurality of contact terminals, said housing comprising: an elongated generally channel-shaped member having a web and sidewalls; axially extending rib means on the external surface of said web; a plurality of openings on each side of said rib means, said openings being spaced apart along the length of said housing body and being adapted to receive contact terminals; and stop means on the internal surfaces of said sidewalls adjacent to the marginal edges thereof for engagement with contact terminals inserted through said openings for preventing axial movement of said contacts relative to said housing after insertion said sidewalls being stiffly flexible to permit insertion of contact terminals through said openings until said stop means latches said terminals in said housing whereby, upon insertion of terminals through said openings until said terminals engage said stop means, forward portions of said terminals are disposed between said sidewalls and rearward portions of said terminals are disposed beside said rib means, and upon insertion of a mating member into said housing, said forward portions of said terminals are urged laterally against said sidewalls and said rearward portions of said terminals are urged against said rib means, whereby said rib means prevents substantial lateral movement of said forward portions and maintains said forward portions in contact with said mating member.
 3. A multicontact electrical connector comprising: an elongated generally channel-shaped housing having a web and sidewalls, an axially extending rib on the external surface of said web, said sidewalls being stiffly flexible towards and away from each other; openings in said web at spaced intervals adjacent to, and beside, said rib; contact terminals extending through said openings, said terminals having rearward portions extending beside, and supported by, said rib, said contact terminals having forward portions extending beside one of said sidewalls; and interengaging means effective between said forward portions of said terminals and said sidewalls, whereby, upon engagement of mating device with said connector with a concomitant imposition of lateral forces on said forward portions of said contacts, said rearward portions of said contacts are urged against, and supported by, said rib thereby to maintain said forward portions in engagement with said mating device.
 4. A connector as set forth in claim 3, said web having openings therein on both sides of said rib.
 5. A multicontact electrical connector comprising: a channel-shaped housing having a web and sidewalls, at least one of said sidewalls being flexible outwardly; openings in said web at spaced-apart intervals; contact terminals extending through said openings, said terminals having forward portions disposed against said one sidewall and having rearward portions extending exteriorly of said web; interengaging means on said one sidewall and said forward portions of said terminals, said interengaging means comprising recess means and laterally extending projection means whereby said terminals can be inserted through said openings with concomitant outward flexure of said sidewall until said terminals are engaged with said sidewall; and abutment means on said web Adjacent to said rearward portions of said sidewalls to support said terminals against rocking motion intermediate their ends upon insertion of a printed circuit board with said connector.
 6. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein two parallel rows of openings are provided in said web.
 7. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said abutment means comprises an axially extending rib on the external surface of said web.
 8. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said interengaging means comprises an axially extending channel on said one sidewall and laterally extending projections on said terminals, said projections being received in said channel. 